Great On Screen Couples: Vivian Leigh and Laurence Olivier.

Laurence Olivier first met Vivien Leigh after her performance in, The Mask of Virtue(1936)and they quickly became friends. They made only three films together, but Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier worked together many times if you include their stage performances.

The first film that Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, performed together in was, Fire Over England (1937). A London Film Productions film drama, directed by William K. Howard and written by Clemence Dane from the novel Fire Over England by A. E. W. Mason. Leigh's performance in the movie helped to convince David O. Selznick to cast her as Scarlett O'Hara, in the film, Gone With the Wind. While playing lovers in the film, Olivier and Leigh fell in love in real life and began an affair. They wanted to marry, but both Leigh's husband and Olivier's wife at the time, did not want to give them a divorce. When they finally were divorced, they were married on 31 August 1940 with Katharine Hepburn and Garson Kanin as witnesses. They stayed together for over 20 years.




Another film they performed in together was, 21 Days, also known as 21 Days Together (1940). A British drama film based on the short play. It was directed by Basil Dean. It is a story about a man, who kills his lover's husband in self-defence and hides the body rather than turn himself in to the police. Then another man is arrested for murder. Now, will he turn himself in?

They're at their best as Horatio Nelson and his mistress Emma Hamilton in the film, That Hamilton Woman(1941), a historical film drama, about a scandal that was similar their own relationship. Which takes place during the Napoleonic wars, produced and directed by Alexander Korda for Alexander Korda Films.

The story begins with no where to turn, alcoholic Lady Hamilton, now in prison shares her past life with her cell mates, in a flashback: Emma, looks into a mirror and remembers, her life as the mistress of Charles Francis Greville. Greville gives Emma to Sir William, in payment for his debts. Emma, over time comes to like Sir William, who marries her. When Horatio Nelson arrives in Naples, Emma is impressed by how he is against Napoleon and his beliefs. She leaves Sir William, to live with Nelson, their life together is threatened, when Nelson decides to leave to fight in the, Battle of Trafalgar. After his death, her life falls apart.



Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier were newlyweds at the time of filming and were considered the "dream couple".

Great On Screen Couples: Cary Grant & Deborah Kerr

Ah the sweet pairings of Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr gave the three films they made together an air of sophistication. The little seen and underrated Dream Wife (1953) was their first film together and is a good romantic comedy which has Grant trying to romance a visiting foreign princess while trying to keep his girlfriend (Kerr) from getting jealous. It's a typical 50's comedy that benefits greatly from the presence of Cary and Deborah. They would team up again four years later for the sentimental classic An Affair To Remember (1957). Constantly ranked as one of the all time romantic films, Grant and Kerr's chemistry is rock solid. This film was remade in the 90's with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, and while that pair did a commendable job, the original is the best version. The last film our couple would make was the 1960 romantic comedy/drama The Grass Is Greener, which featured the pair as a married couple for the first time. They shared the screen with Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons, and a love quadrangle forms over the course of the film. It's a good film that gets tons of airplay on cable. So Grant and Kerr wound up with three good films and one of them being an all time classic. Not too bad.

Great On Screen Couples: Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn.

Katharine Hepburn made her first performance with Spencer Tracy in the film, Woman of the Year (1942), directed by George Stevens. A romantic comedy film. The movie is about a independent woman, who is chosen "Woman of the Year" and her co worker-turned-husband try to find a life of happiness.



Woman of the Year won an Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay and was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Behind the scenes the couple fell in love and would soon become one of Hollywood's most famous romances. Even though Tracy was married at the time.

When Joseph Mankiewicz, first introduced them, Hepburn, was wearing heels said, "I'm afraid I'm too tall for you, Mr. Tracy." Mankiewicz said, "Don't worry, he'll soon cut you down to size." As The Daily Telegraph observed in Hepburn's obituary, "Hepburn and Spencer Tracy were at their most seductive when their verbal fencing was sharpest: it was hard to say whether they delighted more in the battle or in each other."

Keeper of the Flame (1942). A dramatic film. Hepburn plays the widow of a famous civic leader who, just before his death, was planning against the government of the United States. Tracy plays a former war correspondent who is planning to write a biography, only to learn about his evil plans. The film was directed by George Cukor. Katharine Hepburn, wanted to add some romance to the film. She went to producer Victor Saville, about this but he ignored her comments, so Hepburn went directly to Mayer, who was happy to make the film into a Hollywood romance.

Without Love(1945). Romantic/comedy. Directed by Harold S. Bucquet. The story begins when a lonely widow Jamie Rowan, marries a military research scientist, Patrick Jamieson, who has set up his lab in her house. They both believe that a marriage can be a success without love. But as a romantic comedy goes... you know what happens.

The Sea of Grass(1947). Western/drama film. It was directed by Elia Kazan and based on the novel of the same name by Conrad Richter. Kazan was reported so embarrassed by the film that he urged people not to see it. Hepburn, plays a woman from St. Louis moving to New Mexico to marry a rancher, who does not want other ranchers using the government-owned range at all costs.

State of the Union(1948). Directed by Frank Capra. The story is about how Kay Thordyke loves Grant Matthews and helps him become Republican nominee for President. The Republicans, begins to worry as Grant begins to speak for himself...

Please click here to view State Of the Union(1948) movie review.

Adam's Rib (1949). Directed by George Cukor. Judy Holliday, in her first substantial film role. The music was composed by Miklós Rózsa, except for the song "Farewell, Amanda", which was written by Cole Porter. The story begins when, Prosecutor Adam Bonner, is assigned the case against a woman who tried to scare her adulterous husband and his lover by shooting at them, hitting him in the shoulder. Bonner's wife, Amanda, also a lawyer, decides to defend the woman in court. As the two try and win the case, the courtroom battle continues on at home..

Pat and Mike (1952). Comedy. The movie was directed by George Cukor, who also directed The Philadelphia Story and Adam's Rib. The story is about Pat Pemberton, is a talented golfer, except when her over baring fiance is around. He wants them to get married and forget her golf career, but she cannot give up on her dreams. She meets up with Mike Conovan, sports promoter and before they know it they become involved with mobsters and a jealous boxer.

Desk Set (1957). A romantic comedy film, directed by Walter Lang. The film begins at the "Federal Broadcasting Network". With Bunny Watson, is hard at work researching and answering questions on all types of subjects. The network is merging with another company, but.. is keeping it secret until the network head ordered two computers. Richard Sumner, the inventor of the computer, is brought in to see how the library works. The employees jump to the conclusion that the machines are going to replace them when they all receive pink slips.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), for which Hepburn won her second Academy Award for Best Actress. The story begins when, Joey Drayton brings her fiance, Dr. John Prentice, home to meet her parents.



After a romantic period, it became, a close friendship. But, when Tracy became ill, Hepburn took five years off from her career, following completion of the film, Long Day's Journey Into Night, to care for him. Out of consideration for Tracy's family, Hepburn did not attend his funeral. She was too heartbroken to ever watch the film, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.

Great On Screen Couples: Jean Arthur & Jimmy Stewart

When you think of great female screwball comedy actresses, you have to think of Jean Arthur. She starred in some of the most notable screwball comedies of all time: Easy Living, The Devil and Miss Jones, Too Many Husbands, and The More The Merrier. And let's not forget her three classic films for director Frank Capra: Mr. Deeds Goes To Town, You Can't Take It With You, and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. The last two pairing her with Jimmy Stewart. The only two films these legendary stars appeared in. Jean and Jimmy were perfectly in these wildly popular and sentimental films. Both stars projected down home easy going manners that everyday people could relate to. Even though they only paired up for these two films, they made a lasting impression of film lovers everywhere and established them firmly as a top Hollywood on screen couple.

Great On Screen Couples: Myrna Loy and Cary Grant.

With Cary Grant's, talent for making the wildest situations seem believable, combined with Myrna Loy's charm and elegance, they complement each others performances, like in the wonderful comedy films: The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947). Comedy. Directed by Irving Reis. The screenplay was written by Sidney Sheldon. The story begins when seventeen-year-old Susan Turner, who develops a school girl crush on Richard Nugent, a handsome bachelor who gives a lecture on art at her high school. Susan's uncle, a psychiatrist, manages to talk him into playing along with Susan, hoping that she will soon become bored.



When his efforts fail, he throws himself into the charade hoping Susan's older sister Margaret will put an end to the affair. The film ends with Nugent and Margaret falling in love and Susan returning to her high school sweetheart, Jerry.

Myrna Loy and Cary Grant,second paring, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House(1948). Comedy. Directed by H.C. Potter. It was an adaptation of Eric Hodgins' 1946 novel.

The story begins with Jim Blandings, a account executive in the advertising business, who lives with his wife Muriel and two daughters, in a very small New York apartment. One morning, Jim Blandings, comes across an ad for new homes in Connecticut, seeing how expensive they are they decide on a "fixer upper" house, in Connecticut. Which turns out to be a dilapidated, two hundred-year-old farmhouse. Blandings purchases the property for more than than it is really worth. It turns out that the old house, has to be torn down. The Blandings hire architect to design and supervise the construction of their new home.

The nightmare begins with the well being drilled by Mr. Tesander, who has to go deeper and deeper looking for water, while just days later the contractors accidentally find water while digging the basement for the house, making the earlier drilling a costly waste of time. With no windows installed and the floors freshly varnished they move into their new home.

If that is not enough Jim, has been trying to come up with a slogan for "WHAM". Jim also wonders what is going on between his wife Muriel and his best friend Bill Cole, who spends a night alone together in the house during a violent thunderstorm. With all the expenses and his new assignment, Jim starts to wonder why he wanted to live in the country, in the first place...Will the house ever be finished?

Mr. Blandings Builds his Own House" is a wonderfully funny comedy. Cary Grant is hilarious in the role of a man who wants the American Dream of owning his own home..

Wings In The Dark(1935), is a drama which will remind you a little of, Amelia Earhart and an aeronautical inventor who fall in love. Grant's character does not really care for Loy's character as a circus stunt flier. Loy, tells him that the kind of flying she does, is all that is available to her and she is proving to the world, that women can also fly planes. During an accident Cary goes blind and he gives his plane the ultimate test. The film Wings In The Dark, is a wonderful glimpse of both stars in their earlier years.

Great On Screen Couples: Alan Ladd & Veronica Lake

This duo made 4 films together plus one more where they played themselves. Their coming together as on screen partners was at first mainly out of physical necessity: Ladd was just 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) tall and the only actress then on the Paramount lot short enough to pair with him was Lake, who stood just 4 feet 11½ inches (1.51 m). So in their first pairing, This Gun For Hire (1942),which had Lake top billed as a singing magician trying to ferret out some enemy agents and Ladd as a hired killer looking for payback against the spies who double-crossed him. Audiences loved Ladd in this film and when it came time to reunite him and Lake in another film, The Glass Key (1942), he moved up from 4th billing to third. Both films were big hits for Paramaount. And the studio brought them back together for the third time in 1946's masterful film noir classic The Blue Dahlia where Ladd received top billing as his star was on the rise, while Lake's career was stalling. But their chemistry was still apparent as Blue Dahlia remains a film noir favorite. The duo played themselves in all star variety flick, Duffy's Tavern, which really is not fondly remembered as a bright spot for either star. Their fourth and final film was 1948's Saigon, which is widely regarded as the weakest film the pair did. Lake's career pretty much sputtered after the 40's ended while Ladd would go on to star in 30 more films inlcuding probably his most fondly remembered role as the laconic gunfighter Shane. But for three really good films, Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd joined the ranks of great Hollywood on screen couples.

Great On Screen Couples: Lana Turner and John Garfield.

One of Turner's favorite film performances was in , The Postman Always Rings Twice(1946), which co-starred John Garfield. As claimed in a documentary, Turner did not get along with him and when she found he was her male lead, she said: "Couldn't they at least hire someone attractive?" This classic film noir marked a turning point in Lana's career. So, I guess sometimes when you do not care to much for someone.. that can also produce "a great on screen performance".

 Please click here to read Postman Always Rings Twice review.

Great On Screen Couples: John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara

John Wayne made a lot of films. Something like 142 in which he was the lead. And he starred with a host of actresses, but his best on screen partner had to be Maureen O'Hara. They made five films together between 1950 and 1972: Rio Grande, The Quiet Man, The Wings Of Eagles, McLintock! and Big Jake. They made four really good films and one all time classic (The Quiet Man). The fiery O'Hara was the perfect sparring partner for the rough and tumble Wayne. Their first pairing came with the 1950 western Rio Grande, which was the third film of director John Ford's calvary trilogy (the other two being Fort Apache and She Wore A Yellow Ribbon). This would be the first of Maureen's westerns with Wayne. The other two were Big Jake and the rambunctious McLintock! (which is one of my all time favorites). They switched gears for the military drama The Wings Of Eagles, which was directed by Ford. But the pair's crowning achievement came with the sentimental The Quiet Man, which is beloved by so many fans around the world. This film perfectly captures the love/hate on screen relationship of Wayne and O'Hara. And while the film would lose the Oscar for Best Picture that year, John Ford did take one home for directing. So 5 films and the wonderful chemistry of Big John and the fiery red-headed Maureen provided movie lovers with great cinema and lasting memories.

Great On Screen Couples: Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth.

Some people believe that Glenn Ford's relationship with Rita Hayworth (Ginger Rogers cousin), his costar in five films, was more serious than was known publicly.

Rita admits that she was close to her co-star and next-door neighbor Glenn Ford. In an interview published in the New York Times, Hayworth denied she was romantically involved with Ford.

In a interview, Ford said he felt "The film remains so popular because people realize that it's a true story.. and that Rita and I were very much in love. And we remained terribly fond of one another. I guess that electricity came across on screen. I don't know. I really was in love with Rita".

Well.. It really doesn't matter, their on screen chemistry was amazing. Ford's break through role was in, Gilda(1946). He went on to be a leading man opposite her in five films:

Gilda (1946). Film noir. Rita Hayworth, in her signature role as the ultimate femme fatale. The film was noted for cinematographer Rudolph Mate's beautiful photography, costume designer Jean Louis' wardrobe for Hayworth and choreographer Jack Cole's staging of "Put the Blame on Mame" and "Amado Mio", sung by Anita Ellis.

The story is about, gambler Johnny Farrell, who is saved from a gunman by Ballin Mundson, who makes Johnny his right-hand man. But their friendship becomes complicated when Mundson returns home from a trip with his wife Gilda, a woman from John's pass.

Please click to read Gilda (1946) movie review.



The Money Trap (1965). Drama film. directed by Burt Kennedy.

The Loves of Carmen(1948). Cast Rita Hayworth as the gypsy Carmen and Glenn Ford as her doomed lover Don José. It was directed by Charles Vidor.
The story is about a wild Gypsy named Carmen, who's adventures as a bandit, lures a soldier to his unhappy ending.



The Lady in Question(1940). Is a remake of the French Gribouille, a Raimu from 1939.

Affair in Trinidad(1952). Is a film produced by Hayworth's Beckworth Corporation. It was to be Hayworth's "comeback" film with a fiery opening number danced to calypso music. Hayworth's singing voice is dubbed by Jo Ann Greer, who later also sang for Rita in the film, Miss Sadie Thompson and the film, Pal Joey.

The film begins when Chris Emery is working as a nightclub singer and dancer. One night after her performance she receives news from Inspector Smythe and Anderson, that her husband Neil was found dead. At first the police believed that Neil committed suicide. Later on in the investigation, they discover that Neil was murdered. Inspector Smythe and Anderson, inform her that Neil's boat was seen outside Fabian's property at the time of his murder. Chris learns that Fabian makes a living by trading secret information. Chris agrees to take advantage of Fabian's love for her to gather information. After Steve arrives in town he is shocked to learn that his brother committed suicide and begins to investigate matters on his own. After the inquest Chris and Steve spend some time together. Will they find enough proof of Fabian's involvement in Neil's death?

Great On Screen Couples: Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall

From the first time they met, Bogie and Bacall were pure magic. When cast as Marie in her first film, To Have And Have Not (1944), the sparks she and Bogie created was something special. At the time Humphrey was married to his third wife, but once he met Bacall, he had found his true love. The two married a year later and following that, they teamed up for their second film, the noir classic The Big Sleep (one of my personal favorite films). By now Bogie and Bacall knew each other so well, they practically finished each other sentences. They would make two more films together: 1947's Dark Passage and 1948's Key Largo.

And while we no longer see their magic on screen again, Bacall did provide Bogie with something his first three wives never did: a son and a daughter. And they was able to enjoy being a family for a little bit before Bogie's death due to throat cancer. Bacall would later marry again to Jason Robards Jr but would divorce him in 9 years. Bacall herself stated that she never met a man to match her first love. Humphrey Bogart was cremeated and his ashes were interred at Forest Lawn in Los Angeles. Lauren Bacall is one Hollywood's last living legends and periodically makes a rare film appearance.

Great On Screen Couples: Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.

While making the film, To Catch a Thief (1955). Grace Kelly and Cary Grant, developed a close friendship. The two cherished their time together for the rest of their lives. Years later, when asked to name his all-time favorite actress, Grant replied : "Well, with all due respect to Ingrid Bergman, I much preferred Grace. She had serenity."

Video:

 One of their best known scenes in the movie To Catch a Thief, is the fireworks scene, where there is plenty of fireworks both inside and outside..

Great On Screen Couples: Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton

As I write this post, I just learned Liz has been admitted to a hospital for congestive heart failure, so I may get a little emotional as I write. I pray everything turns out fine for her and she will be home soon. Now onto my post about her and Richard Burton, one of the most well known and fiery couples both onscreen and off. They were married and divorced...twice! And they made 11 films together, some of them being instant classics. Their relationship was turbulent to say the least but they were magic on camera, producing some of the best acting on film ever. Their performances in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? should be shown in acting school as a primer to show how it's done. Liz and Dick put on quite the show in real life and on film. It's ironic their film together was the massive and troubled Cleopatra, which turned out to be one disaster after another. Production delays, Liz getting sick, directors being fired then rehired, etc. But it's where Liz and Dick met and fell in love and married 2 years later, and their history would go on for the next 15 years. While Cleopatra may have been a financial disaster and almost bankrupted 20th Century Fox, the pair would go on to make 10 more films, including the star-studded drama The V.I.P.s (1963) co-starring Maggie Smith, Orson Welles, Rod Taylor, and Margaret Rutherford. It's ironic because Liz and Dick play an unhappily married couple. Shades of things to come maybe?

The two would reunite the following year for the gorgeously filmed The Sandpiper. It's noted that the cinematography stands out more than the couple. It is a very beautiful film, that had Big Sur, California as it's setting. And while The Sandpiper is not one of their best films, it is still engaging to watch Liz as a single mom falling in love with a married headmaster of an Episcopal school (Burton).

Their masterpiece Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? came out the following year and brought Liz her second Best Actress Oscar. She gives one of the best film performances I have ever seen as Martha, the frumpy wife of a New England college professor (Burton). Liz gained 30 pounds and used no make-up to turn herself into a 50ish housewife who tends to drink a lot and scream at her husband. Dick gets to deliver some of his best acting as well and the pair's volatile on screen relationship on full display brought more attention to their off screen relationship.

Another volatile on screen relationship beckoned with 1967's The Taming Of The Shrew with Liz and Dick playing Shakespeare's Kate and Petruchio. A perfect fit for this combustible pair. It would be one of their last great films. They would make several more films including Boom!, The Comedians, and Hammersmith Is Out, but their best work had already came and went. Still 11 films, 2 marriages, and so much drama that could fill a dozen novels and several soap operas assures us we will never forget Liz and Dick.
Below are my top 5 Liz and Dick movies plus a little video of their relationship:
1. Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf (1963)
2. The Taming Of The Shrew (1967)
3. The Sandpiper (1965)
4. The V.I.P.s (1963)
5. Cleopatra (1963)